England capped their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign spectacularly with a thrilling 6-4 victory over France in the third-place playoff, claiming the tournament’s bronze medal after an unforgettable 10-goal contest packed with drama, momentum swings and late goals.
Philips News reports that the Three Lions wasted no time asserting themselves, opening the scoring just three minutes into the match through Declan Rice. The midfielder finished confidently to hand England an early lead before turning provider in the 18th minute, setting up Ezri Konsa to double the advantage with a well-taken finish.
England continued to dominate before the break as Bukayo Saka added a third goal in the 37th minute after being picked out by Marcus Rashford. Deep into first-half stoppage time, Saka struck again, converting Eberechi Eze’s assist to send England into halftime with a commanding 4-0 lead and seemingly in complete control.
France, however, returned from the interval with renewed determination and immediately sparked hopes of a remarkable comeback. Kylian Mbappé reduced the deficit in the 48th minute from a Michael Olise assist before Bradley Barcola made it 4-2 six minutes later after being teed up by Mbappé. The momentum shifted further in France’s favour when Mbappé grabbed his second goal of the night in the 66th minute, again finishing off a pass from Olise to cut England’s lead to just one goal.
With France piling on the pressure, England earned a crucial penalty late in the game. Saka kept his composure from the spot in the 87th minute to complete his hat-trick and restore a two-goal cushion, giving the Three Lions breathing space heading into stoppage time.
The drama was far from over. Ousmane Dembélé scored in the sixth minute of added time after connecting with a pass from Dayot Upamecano to make it 5-4 and set up a tense finale. But England had the final say when Jude Bellingham struck in the eighth minute of stoppage time, sealing a remarkable 6-4 victory and bringing the curtain down on one of the most entertaining matches of the tournament.
The final whistle confirmed England as winners of the FIFA World Cup 2026 bronze medal after an extraordinary 10-goal thriller. Saka’s hat-trick, Rice’s goal and assist, France’s spirited fightback led by Mbappé, and Bellingham’s stoppage-time strike combined to produce one of the tournament’s most memorable matches.
Meanwhile, PhilipsNews reports that the victory against France also marked England’s first World Cup podium finish since 1966, when the Three Lions won the tournament on home soil, ending a 60-year wait for a top-three finish at football’s biggest event.
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